Fillings (restorations) are done to remove decay, and replace the lost tooth structure. It is called a filling because new material fills the hole left by the decay. The most commonly used materials for fillings are tooth colored composite resins and amalgams or silver fillings. Composite resins have several advantages over amalgams. The most notable advantage of dental composites is that they are available in a variety of shades to closely match the color of the existing teeth. Composites are bonded to tooth structure by both mechanical and chemical bonding. The chemical bonding strengthens the tooth’s structure and restores it to its original physical integrity. Very high bond strengths to the both enamel and dentin can be achieved. Composite resin can be used for both front (anterior) and back (posterior) teeth. Composite resins are more technique sensitive, require more time, and are more expensive. Some insurance companies do not cover composites for back teeth.
Dental amalgams are alloys of mercury combined with silver, copper, tin, zinc and other trace metal. The main disadvantage of dental amalgam is that it is not aesthetic. Amalgams have/continue to receive negative publicity because of their presumed toxicity. Elemental mercury is found in liquid form, easily vaporizes at room temperature and is well absorbed by inhalation. After inhalation, only a small amount of elemental mercury continues to persist in the body and accounts for the central nervous system toxicity. In dentistry today, the amalgam is sealed in capsules, decreasing the amount of possible exposure to elemental mercury. The capsule is mixed (triturated) in an amalgamator to form the alloy used. Once mixed, the reaction forms an alloy, which is a combination of silver mercury and tin mercury. The mercury is chemically bound and does not have any of the toxic properties of the elemental mercury. Mercury toxicity from eating fish has also received a great deal of attention. Coal-burning power plants are the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions in the air in the United States, accounting for over 50 percent of all domestic mercury emissions. Mercury in the air eventually settles into water or onto land where it can be washed into water
Once deposited, certain microorganisms can change it into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish. Fish and shellfish are the main sources of methylmercury exposure to humans.
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8428 Bandera Rd Ste 1
San Antonio, TX 78250